Songbird (15 page)

He remembered her grandmother calling the ceremony a song of life and creation. Had his participation brought out these feelings of connection between them? He’d kissed her when it was over, unable to deny the desire that throbbed deep inside of him. It felt right, like the completion of something more. Without her grandmother’s presence, he would have made love to Teya and never doubted the reasons, but what if it was a compulsion brought on by the magic?

Teya had asked him to sing, but that was all he had agreed to do. Now, it looked like there was more to it, and it bothered him that she hadn’t told him. Why? If they’d asked, would he have agreed? Maybe not. So they did it anyway, without asking, and without telling him anything. He didn’t like that one bit. 

Teya moaned softly in her sleep, and Bran caught his breath. Her brow puckered, almost like she was reacting to his frustration. He thought she’d gone back to sleep until he glanced at her eyes, and realized they were open and watching him.

She frowned, and her gaze turned into a silvery pool of concentration in the deepening twilight. He got the distinct impression she was trying to read his mind. With a suddenness he wasn’t expecting, she rose to her feet and mumbled something about needing some privacy before scrambling up the rocky hillside behind them.

He opened his mouth to speak, but held back, deciding to try a different approach. Concentrating hard, he shifted his focus to Teya’s mind and got the distinct impression of fear. He pushed deeper, and abruptly slammed against a mental barrier. He physically jerked away, almost hitting the back of his head against the tree. Astonishment and a sense of dread drove him to his feet, but he clenched his jaw and mastered the impulse to charge after her.

In a steady climb over the rocks, she soon topped the rise. Without breaking stride, she stepped around a large boulder and disappeared from sight. Bran took a deep breath to calm down. As hard as it was, he knew it was important to wait a few minutes before he followed. He made it to thirty seconds, then threw caution to the wind and charged up the hill.

She sat at the top of the craggy rocks facing the fading light. A gentle breeze tossed her hair, but other than that, she sat still as a statue. The blankness on her face reminded him of the first time he saw her at the palace, and a small shiver coursed through him. It came to him that the coldness she showed the world was what happened when she locked away her feelings and humanity.

With the gray hues of evening, her face shone chalk-white against the darkness of her hair, giving her an ethereal glow. He could almost feel the power emanating from her. When she fixed her attention on him, his breath caught at how cold and predatory she seemed.

A barrier between them opened like a deep chasm, too wide to cross. He remembered her grandmother’s words, and his heart beat furiously at the implication that Teya wasn’t quite human. But if she wasn’t human, what else could she be?

She captured his gaze like a predator contemplating its prey before she sighed, and a flicker of emotion broke the spell. The world tilted back to normal and Bran let out a relieved breath. She was warm and real, not a specter to be frightened of. Still, he couldn’t help the nervous tension in his legs as he climbed the short distance to her side.

He sat down and glanced out over the countryside. “The view from here is beautiful,” he said, hoping to put her at ease. “The transition between night and day has always been a magical time for me. I like watching the moonrise, and see the first star in the darkening sky. Have you ever made a wish on a star?”

Teya’s shoulders slumped, and she took a deep breath, but didn’t turn to face him. “I don’t think so.” She let down her guard and Bran sighed to feel something like relief through the bond, even if it was distant. As she relaxed, Bran became even more sensitive to the turmoil within her. He felt her fear, but a thread of warmth flowed between them and overshadowed it.

“I can’t remember what I wished for as a child,” Bran said. “But right now, I think I’d wish to hear you sing.” Her surprise wafted over him. “There’s nothing more beautiful anywhere…than you.” A heartfelt smile lit up her face. “So what do you say?”

She took a quick breath and shook her head.

“Please?” he asked, knowing she could hardly refuse after all they’d been through.

Her lips twisted downward, but she gave in with a quick nod. Focusing on the night sky, she filled her lungs with air and sang a simple melody that wove through the fabric of his imagination. She sang of a journey to the stars filled with wishes and dreams, a journey fraught with uncertainty, but undertaken for a noble purpose. A journey that ended with a return to a home filled with love and peace.

It reflected the journey they were on now, and surprised him with so much longing, that his chest hurt. “Thank you.” Bran took her hand, barely able to speak. “Someday, I’d like to sing that song with you.”

Taking a quick breath, Teya snatched her hand away and shook her head.

“What is it?” he prodded. “Just... tell me. It’s time I knew whatever it is you’re so afraid of.”

“All right,” she agreed. Several moments passed while she gathered her courage. “Something happened in the grove. But I’m afraid to tell you, because... I don’t want you to hate me.”

Bran smiled wryly, knowing that however mad he got, he could never hate her. “I don’t think it’s as bad as you make it out to be. I could never hate you. I could be angry, but hate? That’s pretty strong.”

“Just remember, it was Leona’s idea,” she said

Bran’s smile widened, despite the gravity of the situation. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She steadied herself, then gazed at him with such earnestness that his heart softened. “Leona wanted to do more than strengthen the grove, she wanted to protect me. I didn’t understand the full measure of what she did until later, after it was done. You have to believe that.”

She waited until Bran nodded before continuing. “It was during the ceremony. The powers of creation and life are also the same powers that are used to bond a man and a woman. Leona helped create a link between us that has opened a connection to our feelings. She did this so that I could draw on your strength and your protection.

“It was selfish, and we did it without your consent... which I know is wrong. I hope you can forgive me, but she gave me little choice.”

“How is this supposed to help you?”

She hesitated and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure. I just know that she didn’t want you to leave me, and with this connection, you wouldn’t be able to.” Her gaze flashed to his with desperation. “Please understand. I don’t intend to hold you to this when you never meant for it to happen. When this is all over, the bond can be broken and I will release you, I promise.”

Even though he’d expected something like this, a surge of anger poured over him. “I’m not sure I understand why your grandmother thought she needed to do that. I would never have agreed to it.”

At Teya’s stricken expression, he continued. “But only because I don’t need this bond to help you. I wouldn’t leave you unprotected and alone. I’m not that kind of person. If she would have asked, I could have told her. Now look at this burden she put on you. It’s hardly fair.”

Teya’s expression cleared and the tension seeped out of her. “My grandmother had good intentions, but she didn’t know you. After what Korban did to me and our people, she doesn’t trust easily. But thank you for telling me.”

She glanced away, and her brows crinkled together. “There’s something else you need to know. I can’t sever the bond, only Grandmother can do that. But... I can shield you from my feelings.”

Something clicked into place and Bran paused. Maybe Leona created this bond between them for an entirely different reason. “There might be something else that we don’t understand yet. I don’t think you should block your feelings from me.”

“It’s best if I do,” Teya explained. “When I was held captive, I never seemed to feel things as much as I have lately. I used to shut my feelings into an imaginary box, so I could cope with things I couldn’t control. I kept that box locked up tight so my emotions wouldn’t touch me. I’m used to shutting my feelings away. I don’t want to lose control. Not like I did today. You saw what happened.”

Bran nodded. “I understand that. After being in captivity that long, it’s amazing you kept your sanity at all. You remained true to yourself, even though it was at the cost of your feelings. That is an amazing feat for anyone, let alone a child. Most people would have done whatever their captors wanted for acceptance and love. Even if it was wrong.”

“I was ready to kill myself,” Teya confessed. She glanced at him, her face glowing with wonder and gratitude. “Then you came and took me away from all that. You took me home to the grove, and even though it had changed, it was the first time I had ever felt at peace. Using my abilities to nurture and protect life filled me with more joy than anything I have ever known. That’s where I belong. I realize that now, this world is foreign to me. My power was not meant to kill.”

“Maybe not, but today you didn’t have a choice.”

“I know. It was something I had to do, but it goes against my nature. If I am to continue, I’m going to have to lock my feelings away again.” She caught his gaze, and the pain in her eyes broke his heart. “Don’t you see? Feelings make me lose control of my power and I can’t risk making a mistake and killing someone again.”

She stood, separating from him in both body and mind. Closing her eyes, she slammed a hard shield over her feelings. Closed away, she took on the predatory blankness of a bird of prey and his heart filled with anguish. Was that the real reason Leona did this? Without Teya’s connection to him, would she lose control and become the monster everyone feared?

“No.” In one swift motion Bran stood at her side with a boldness that surprised her. “You need me, Teya. Don’t let your fear shut me out. You’re not facing this alone.” She needed his humanity, his reasoning, and his common sense.

Her sudden hope turned into a cynical smile. “Yes, Grandmother made sure of that, didn’t she?”

“This bond has nothing to do with it.”

“Is that right?” Teya asked.

“Yes.” He could tell she wanted to believe him, but didn’t quite dare. “I stopped you from going after those men, didn’t I? We can do this together. You just have to trust me.”

“But the bond…”

“It can help us. We don’t know exactly what is coming, but we’d be fools not to use what we have. We need every advantage we can get.”

“You’re right.” Teya gave in. “But I can’t help feeling guilty that you got more than you bargained for.”

Bran tried to keep a straight face. “Well, you are kind of hard to put up with, but I’ll try to make the best of it.” He laughed at the look of outrage on her face. “It was a joke,” he said, then sobered at her pained expression. “It’s hard for you to laugh isn’t it?”

“I guess I’ll have to work on that.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he’d be happy to help her learn, but he didn’t want to push too hard. In time, he knew she could learn to laugh at herself, but not just yet.

“How much longer before we reach the city?” she asked.

“A couple of hours. Is your arm feeling better?”

“Yes, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Good, then we’d better get moving.” He let her go first, and followed her down the steep trail to the horses. By the time they left the trees, darkness had fallen over them, and Bran decided it was safe to travel on the road.

A chill breeze swept down from the north, and they both huddled in their cloaks for warmth. It didn’t compare with the warmth that passed through the bond between them, and Bran savored this moment of peace. It lightened his heart that they finally had everything out in the open.

He enjoyed the easy banter they shared, and it was nice to have Teya open up to him for a change. Even talking, he loved the sound of her voice. The hour it took to reach the outskirts of the city passed too quickly. Now it was time to get serious.

“Now that we’re this close to the city, we need to be careful. There will be soldiers, but I’m also pretty sure that Jesse passed this way ahead of us. Is there anything you can do with your magic to keep us from being seen?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I could try something that would make people not want to look at us, but I’m not sure how.”

“All right,” Bran said. “Stay close. Once we get to the inn outside the city gates, we can go directly to my room.”

Teya nodded. As they took to the road, she chanted in a soft whisper and soon darkness settled over him like a shadow. He led the way by an indirect path through back roads and alleys. At this time of night, not too many people were about, but that didn’t mean they could escape notice.

He breathed easier when the first person they encountered didn’t seem to see them. Teya’s magic worked. As they reached the stables of the inn without incident, Bran let out a relieved breath.

After settling the horses, he took Teya up an outside staircase to a balcony around the second floor. At the door to his room, he paused to pull up a wooden plank. He sent her a reassuring smile and took out the key, then unlocked the door.

“Wait here,” he whispered, then crept inside and felt for the lamp. He struck a match and lit the lamp, turning to glance around the room. In the light, everything looked as he had left it. The big bed took up most of the space, and a table and chairs sat in one corner with the dresser in the other.